Building-block.



Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT irren.

SAMUEL l). HACKMAN, OF BURRO/XK, lVllCHlGAN.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,459, dated July 5, 19021.

Application filed October 31, 1902. Serial No. 129,598. (No model.)

building-block in which the building-cement will be entirely concealed and the blocks so united as to be mutually supported and prevented from lateral movement.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, and pointedout in the claim hereto appended.

lIn the drawings illustrative of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective View of one of the improved building blocks or bricks detached. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a plurality of the bricks or blocks assembled. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the building-blocks as it will be constructed for building the corners of walls or other structures. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the improved building-blocks in curved shape as they will be employed in building arches or domes.

The improved building-block will preferably be constructed of Portland cement or other similar waterproof material or compound, so that when the structure is erected it will be waterproof and will be found very eflicacious in building dams, eisterns, tanks, silos, area-walls, and other structures exposed to dampness and moisture. Y

The building-blocks will be formed with longitudinal grooves upon their straight flat edges and preferably, also, upon their ends with the material of the blocks depressed adjacent to the tongue to provide cavities for the binding-cement, so that when the blocks are assembled the cement will be entirely concealed between the courses, and therefore not exposed upon the sides of the structure erected with the blocks.

The blocks may be constructed of any required size and shape, but will preferably be of about the ordinary size of common building-brick, and l do not, therefore, wish to be limited in any manner to the shape or sizes of the blocks.

For the purpose of illustration a number of the building-blocks of di'l'li'erent shapes and sizes are shown, Fig. 1 representing an ordinary brick form, Fig. 3 a corner block, and Fig. 4 a block suitable for use in building arches, domes, and similar' structures.

The body of the block is indicated at 1l), the groove at 11, and the tongue at 12, the grooves of each block being located upon the opposite side of the block from the tongue anddelining flat bearing-faeesof a width greater than the width of the grooves., as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Preferably the tongues and grooves will be arranged upon all the edges of each block, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, wherein the groove 11 is shown upon one edge and likewise continuedupon one end of each block, and the tongue 12 likewise located upon the opposite edge and continued upon the opposite end from the groove, so that when the blocks are assembled as indicated in Fig. 2 the two tongues and grooves interiit, as will be obvious. The improved form of block is capable of erection into a wall with the joints breaking in the ordinary manner; but as the manner of assembling' the blocks into a wall is so well understood this feature is not illustrated. Longitudinally disposed in the material of the block adjacent to the tongues are cavities 13, preferably inclined inwardly and downwardly .from the faces of the block toward the roots oi the tongues, .forming a concaved upper edgcwith the rib 12 longitudinally disposed in the center thereof, so that when the blocks are assembled as in Fig. 2 angular-shaprnl closed and concealed cavities will be formed between the meeting edges and entirely below the `[lat edge of the adjacent block. As shown, these cavities are designed to be [illed with the binding-cement 14, which will likewise preferably be of Portland or other similar suitable material or compound. The sides of the tongues and grooves will preferably correspond in size, so that when the blocks are assembled they will closely engage and eifectually prevent relative lateral movement. By this arrangement it will be obvious that an ample supply of cement may be placed between the adjacent surfaces of the blocks to securely bind them, while at the same time the outer edges of the blocks may be in direct contact, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby entirely concealing the cement within the joint, exposing' a greater surface of the adjacent block to the action of the binding material, and preventing its eX- posure to the moisture upon the outer surface of the wall or other structure. This is a very important feature of the invention and adds materially to the value of the structure when erected, as the binding-cement is thereby protected from the outside moisture and deterioration from that cause effectually prevented.

The form of block which will be employed at the corners of the structures is shown in Fig. 3 consisting in two blocks, preferably of unequal lengths, united at right angles and constructed "rights and Llefts, so that when built into the walls the requisite breaking of the joints will be accomplished. This form of corner-block is therefore a very impoltant feature of the invention and greatly increases the efliciency and value of the device and likewise materiallyincreases the strength of a structure embodying the same.

The blocks may be constructed of any suitable material, such as waterproof or Portland cement or its compounds and similar compounds or material or of ordinary brick-clay, lire-clay, terra cotta, or other. material or compounds and provided with the reverselydisposed tongues and grooves, together with the binding-cement cavities 13, and I therefore claim the right to the use of the special form of building' block herein illustrated when constructed of any of the various materials usually employed for building blocks or bricks. I also claim a special advantage in forming a building-block with one portion at right angles to the other portion, as shown in Fig. 3, blocks of this form to be employed in the building of the corners 'of the structure. Blocks thus constructed will very greatly stiffen and strengthen the structures at the corners, enabling them to resist a much greater strain than structures erected with the ordinary forms of building-blocks or of building-blocks of the bonding or interlitting form joined at the corners in the ordinary manner.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- A building-block comprising a body portion having its upper edge and one end wall thereof concaved and provided with a centrally-disposed locking-rib having converging side faces, the lower edge of said block and the opposite end wall thereof being provided with correspondingly-shaped seatinggrooves defining iiat bearing-faces of a width greater than that of the grooves` the lockingrib of one block being adapted to exactly fit the seating-groove of the mating block with the flat bearing-face of the mating block eX- tending entirely across the concavity of the opposite block to thereby prevent lateral displacement of said blocks.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature. in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL D. HACKMAN.

NVitnesses:

R. CRoFFoRD, MICHAEL CLAY. 

